Vertical coking retort bench



Aug., 27, 1935. G. GoETz VERTICAL COKING RETORT BENCH I Filed July 21, 195g 2 sheets-sheet 1 f5.9 M ggy@ I l l i l l l l f 1 l| Allg. 27, 1935. G, GOETZ 2,012,447

VERTICAL COKING RETORT BENCH Filed July 21, 1932 l 2 sheets-Sheet Y2 6'3 15 ,3A /Q Patented Aug. 27, 1935 UNTED STAT ATT orties VERTICAL COKING RETORT BENCH Gottfried Goetz, Webster Groves, Mo., assigner to Ludwig Kern, Webster Groves, Mo.

Application July 21, 1932, serial No. 623,701

1 Claim.4

class described which includes means adapted for more advantageously removing the products of distillation Without destroying the same; a retort bench including improved means for charging and delivering the coked product; a retort bench having improved heating means; a retort bench embodying improved means for recovering and conserving heat; a retort bench including improved means for quenching the product as it is delivered; anda retort bench of the class described which is relatively simple in construction `and operation. Other objects may be in part obvlous and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elei ments and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which Awill be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the Vfollowing claim.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments'of ythe invention,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of` a retort bench employing the present invention; and,

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the retort lbench shown in Fig. l.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, numeral l indicates a general supporting structure for a retort bench comprising individual retorts 3 arranged as a battery. in the drawings, itwill be noted that six separate retorts 3 are provided. The number six is not, of course, to be considered as limiting the invention; it is apparent that the battery or bench may comprise any `number of order that the heat transfer to the coal or the like included therein may be eiected more rapidly, as, itl will be understood, coal is a relatively poor conductor of heat and, if it is attempted to heat a relatively thick body of coal from the outside, the time lag before the center of the body is brought to the desired temperature is distinctly objectionable. The taper of the retort aids in discharging the same.

The upper end'of` each retort Sis provided with 1G a closure means S, whichmay be of any suitable construction, such as that shown in my copending patent application, Serial No. 623,702, :tiled July 2l, 1932. The lower end of each retort 3 is like- Wise closed by a discharge door Il, which may likewise be of any suitable construction, such as that shown in my copending patent application, Serial No. 623,703, filed July 2l, 1932.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that each lof the retorts v@l is relatively long from front to back, as is customary in this art In the present invention, a central partition I3 divides each retort 3 into-a front section 3A and a back section 3B. The purpose of this lateral division will appear hereinafter.

Each end wall l5 of each retort 3 is provided with a Vseries'of'openings 1' '1' discharginginto a Vertical vapor outlet headerlil. The openings l'l extend, or are distributed, from the top to the bottom of the retort 3. These outlets Il comprise a particular advantage ofthe present invention.

In prior retorts, it has been customary to Withdraw the products of distillation, or vapors, or tars, from a single point or points all near the top ofthe retort.` products coming from the coal near' the bottom of the retort were obliged to pass through a mass i of highly heated coal of considerable length, and frequently to come into contact with the even more highly heated walls oi the retort, with the result that the tars and similar products .were cracked, or subjected to pyrogenic or secondary decomposition, by the heat, and the character of the distillation products, especially the primary tars, was thereby undesirably changed. In the present invention, outlets are provided for the distillation products substantially at al1-levels of the retort, and thus the vapors are drawn off Without y.being required to pass through a large 50 body of overheated coal or to come in contact With objectionably large areas ofA overheated Walls. As a result of this provision, the products ot distillationobtained through utilization of the present invention' are considerably enhanced in This meant that distillation :port the bars 2.

value over similar products obtained from prior retorts.

Further vapor outlets 2l. are provided along the top upper edges of the retorts 3, on each side. The outlets 2E each discharge into a main vapor header 23, into which the vertical vapor headers i9 also discharge. The header 23 conducts the vapors to suitable condensate recovery apparatus and the like, which is customary in the art of coal carbonization.

Not only the end walls l of the retorts 3, but also both sides of the central partition i3, are provided with the outlets l1. Thus additional provision is made for the withdrawal of the vapors produced substantially as quicklyV asthey are formed. This constitutes the primary advantage of the partition I3. It will be understood, however, that the partition I3 may be dispensed with, if the retort is short enough, or that it may be repeated whereby the retort is divided into three or more sections, if said retort isv sufliciently Vlong to warrant such construction.

It will be noted that each outlet Il slopes upwardlyfrom the point that it leaves the retort 3.v This upward slope .is advantageous, as it prevents lodging of lumps of coal in the outlet channels in such manner as to obstruct the drawing of vapors therethrough, to any objectionable extent.

As has heretofore been indicated, each set of three retorts 3 discharges into a common quench-V f .time asit isv sufficient in amount to fill a car or the likel A further advantage of thisrconstruction, is that, with the provision of the quenching chamber in direct association with the retorts, the coke is delivered substantially cold, and does not require quenching means exterior to the retort battery.

Referring to Fig. l, it will be noted that each it is provided with sloping bottoms V25, the angle l of vwhich is suited to the angle of slip of the coke to be made. In each chamber 5 are provided a series of breaker bars 27 vwhich extend across the chamber 5 laterally, are secured in the sides thereof. Vertical bars 29 strengthen and sup- The bars 2 serve to break the coke, as it'is delivered from'the retorts, into relatively large lumps, which, ho-wever, are sufficiently smaller than the lumps delivered directly from the retorts to permit of their falling 'to the bottom of the quenching chamber. rThat is, each retort 3, when it is discharged, discharges its contents Substantially in a single block, which is of quite considerable size. The breaker bars 2l serve the useful purpose of breaking these retort-sizelumps, as they fall under the influence of gravity toward the bottom of the chamber 5, into lumps of such size that they are easily deliverable to theA discharging mouth of the quenching chamber.

Mounted in sideward recesses in the walls of the chamber 5 are a series of pipes 3l, which carry the quenching medium for the coke. Water, for example, may be used as a quenching medium; steam may likewise be used for quenching under certain circumstances. The pipes 3| are provided with spaced openings directing the water or the like against the accumulated mass of coke in the bottom of the chamber 5. In this way, the coke is quenched substantially as it leaves the retort 3 and before it is delivered from the retort battery. The pipes 3l are desirably mounted in the recesses, as shown, so that they do not present obstructions to the movement of the coke.

The sloping walls 25 of the chamber' 5 terminate in a discharge spout 33, which may be closed by suitable closure means to permit the accumulation of the desired quantity of coke. Included in the discharge mouth 33 is a rotary coke-breaker 35, which is advantageously of the type shownV in my copending patent application, Serial No. 623,705, filed July 2l, 1932. The breaker 35, when it is not rotating, constitutes the closure means above referred to, as the lumps of coke are too large to pass the same.` The rotary breaker 35 reduces the rather large lumps, formed by the breaker bars 2, into suitably sized small lumps, which may be used directly for metallurgical or household consumption or like purposes.

It isthus seen that, in the normal course of events, quenched, broken, small lump coke is delivered on to the discharge conveyor l, whence it may be transported to any suitable destination.

The heating system of the retorts `is substantially as follows:

Along the side of each retort 3 (see Fig. 2) are provided two series of horizontal ilues 3l, one series, SlA, corresponding to the front section 3A of the retort, and the other series, S'EB, corresponding to the back section 3B of the retort. Each series of lues is joined, at the alternate ends 38 cf the individual iiues, to comprise a sequential arrangement from top to bottom, or from bottom to top, as the case may be. The two series Sl'A and 33B are connected in series by the single top flue 3l. (The letters A and B are hereinafter suixed to each index number, to indicate the respective section referred to, and when no letter is suffixed, the section is not in question.) The lowermost flue 3l on each series is connected, by a vertical flue to a cross iiue di, which is in turn connected by vertical flues :23 directly to a regenerator 55. Communicating with the cross flue di are a number of inlets @il which in turn communicate with the quenching chamber 5. The inlets il are provided with suitable dampers as illustrated, so that the quenching chambers 5 may be placed in or outl of communication with the lues 35i or ill.

The bottom of each regenerator 45 is connected by a short flue t9, controlled by a damper 5i, to a tunnel 53, which leads to both a suitable stack and a suitable air inlet.

The ilues 3l are each provided, at their ends corresponding to the end walls i5 of the retorts, with a burner 55 or 5l'. The burners 55 and 57 are identical, but are used in different manners as will be apparent hereinafter. The burners 55 and El are of a suitable gas-burning type, or the like, customary in the art.

Considering, for the present, that the heating gases travel in the direction indicated by thearrows in Fig. 2, the following is their course: Cold air enters through the tunnel 53B and flue alB to the regenerator 45B which, let itbe assumed, has previously been heated in the manner to be described. The hot air now travels through the flues 43B vto the horizontal lflue 52B, and thence CRES through the vertical flue 39B Jtothe heating flues 31B. The burners 55B are nowV ignited. It will be seen that the burners 55B propagate their llames in the direction indicated by the arrows, the rate .of fuel and air feed being desirably such that the length of the arne is great enough to extend across through one flue 31B and back through the next higher iiue 3iB as the heating gases progress upwardly. The series of burners 5'B is preferably turned off at this time, as their tendency would be to propagate a flame into a direction reverse to that desired under the present circumstances. Thus, considering that the direction of flow is that indicated by the arrows, it will be seen that each time the gases pass through a iiue from the right to the left of Fig. 2 (right-hand section 3B of the retorts), they are supplied with additional heat from a burner 55B. The upward progress of the heating gases continues until the top flue 31 is reached. Thereupon the gases pass entirely across the top of the retort into the front, or left-hand section 3A thereof. That is, the top flue 37 extends past the central partition i3. The gases now commence a journey -downwardly through the flues 31A corresponding to the front section 3A of the retort 3. The burners 55A are ignited, and propagate their flames-into the direction of travel of the gases. After the gases have passed through the lowermost ue 31A, they are delivered into the vertical iiue 39A, and thence through the flues MA and 43A into the regenerator 45A. There the waste heat in the gases is absorbed by heating the regenerator 45A, to be recovered as hereinafter described. From the regenerator 45A the gases pass through iue 49A to the tunnel 53A and thence to the stack where they are discharged.

After operation has been continued in the manner indicated for a sufcient length of time adequate to heat the regenerator 155A, or to cool the regenerator 65B, the dampers are suitably changed in position so that the entire direction of ow of the gases is reversed. That is, instead of the cold air entering at tunnel 53B, cold air is now introduced through tunnel 53A and through the now preheated regenerator MSA. The travel of gases is now directly opposite to that indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The burners 55A and 55B have in the meanwhile been turned off, and the burners 5iA and 5'iB all ignited. It will be seen that the burners 5l project a` flame in the present direction of travel of the gases, as contrasted to the direction of flame produced by the burners 55 in the preceding stage of operation.

The hot gases eventually pass through the righthand regenerator 55B and reheat the same. When the right-hand regenerator 45B has been sufficiently heated, operation is again reversed to that originally described, and as represented by the arrows in Fig. 2. y

Referring again to Fig. l, it will be` seen that the vertical flues 33 are in fact multiple,.-and so arranged as to provide for the series of heating nues 3l between the successive retorts in the bench, as well as those at the ends of the groups of three retorts. Suitable dampers are provided so that the retorts 3 may be heated one at a time or in groups, as desired.

It will be appreciated that upon quenching the hot coke in the chamber 5 in the manner described, large quantities of hot gases will be produced, the gases comprising, for example, steam and producer gas when water is used for quenching. In order to conserve heat, these gases are desirably conducted throughhtheinlets to the,`

lhorizontal nue lil, and conducted through the heating system together with the hot air from the regenerators. Or, in other instances, the hot gases from the quenching chamber 5 may be conducted through the inlets il and directly to the regenerators 45, in such manner as to aid in heating the regenerators without passing the steam throughout the whole heating iiue system. Whether the gases from the quenching chamber 5 go directly to the regenerators 45 or to the heating flues Si depends upon the direction in which the heating gases aretravellingat the time.

The tunnels 53, it will be understood, desirably are constructed to supply all of the regenerators 45 in the given bench of retorts.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a highly efficient, heat-conserving means is provided .whereby the retorts as a whole are heated. Waste directly in heating the retort walls.

In the case that it is not desired to utilize the hot gases proceeding from the quenching operation in connection with the retort heating system, outlet pipes 3l are provided in each chamber 5 (see Fig. 2). Such pipes l are used when it is desirablek to recover whatever volatile material, or combustible gases, that are produced during the quenching operation, or to recover directly the water gasproduced by quenching with water or steam. It will be understood, of course, that `when the pipes 5! are open, the inlets i7 are closed, or vice versa.

Under certain instances, it is desirable to introduce steam into the body of coal in a retort during the coking procedure. This is accomplished, in the present invention, by theprovision of vertical steam headers 33 (see Fig. 2) at each end of the retort 3, the headers 63 being provided with a number of steam inlets 65 directed into the interior of the retorts 3.

The discharge conveyor 'l operates in a tunnel 6T extending transversely of the retort bench, and discharges at one end into a hopper 69 for delivery to any suitable car or the like. The end of tunnel 3l is preferably provided with an airtight door 'l I, so that air is not admitted through said tunnel into the quenching chambers 5. This air-tight door 'il establishes a substantially sealed interior extending therefrom to the top of the respective retorts 3, through the discharge tunnel 6l, quenching chamber 5, and respective retorts 3.

The present retort system is particularly designed for the coking of lump coal, in relatively shapeless form, to make the lump coke of. commerce, as contrasted with shaped coal or coke forms, such as briquettes. In the case that the latter are to be made, it is more desirable to utilize the retort system shown in my copending patent application, Serial No. 623,700, filed July 21, 1932, which has many features in common with the present invention.

The present retort system is also particularly designed, and well adapted, for carrying out the coking processes disclosed in the copending patent applications as follows:

FeblllaryV 12;Y 1931.

. Ludwig Kern, Serial No. 342,315, filed February 23, 1929. Y

VLudwig Kern, et al., Serial No. 4562122, led June 18,1930.

l Ludwig Kern, et al., 11111618I 1930- Ludwig Kern, et a1.,

serial No. 462,126, aies Serial No. 515,398, filed In View of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.`

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions Without departing from the scope of therinvention, it is intended that al1 matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be iii-- Y terpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

' I claim:V

A vertical earbonizing retort having an oblong shape in horizontal cross section, including horizvontal superposedheating lues arranged along the two Wider sides thereof, and outlets from the retort for the products of distillation distributed vertically along the two narrower sides of the retort,V from top to bottom thereof, and a further series of outlets from the retort disposed horizone tally alongthe tops of the wider sides of. the retort, but above the topmost heating flue.

GOTTFRIED GOE'IZ. 

